SD ahead in phasing out carbons dangerous to Ozone

SWAZILAND has made considerable strides in meeting the phase out schedules on Ozone depleting substances set out under the Montreal Protocol.
The country is thus poised to comply with the January 1, 2010 deadline of complete Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) phasing out.
Amongst things done by the country in compliance with the Montreal Protocol is the training of Customs and Excise officials on monitoring the import of ozone depleting substances into the country and combating illegal trade in these.
The country has also established recovery and recycling centres and has trained technicians in the mobile air conditioning and refrigeration sectors on good practices and use of new gases that have less harmful effects on the ozone layer.
This was said by Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Macford Sibandze at a press conference marking the International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.
The day commemorates the date of the signing in 1987 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
This year’s theme was; ‘Universal Participation: Ozone Protection Unifies the World’.
Sibandze said Swaziland ratified the Montreal Protocol in 1992 and all its amendments in 2005.
“The country further established a National Ozone Unit (NOU) under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs and a number of activities and programmes have been undertaken since.
“To monitor and control the importation of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), Swaziland established the ODS Regulations in 2003 under the Environment Management Act of 2002. These regulations regulate and control imports and exports of ozone depleting substances and equipment dependent on them. The regulations further provide for a licensing system on import of all ODS,” he said.
The Minister said since 2007 the country had been recording zero consumption of CFCs, which is a great achievement.
“Although the country complies with the provisions of the Protocol, we still have a challenge in controlling imports of ODS through porous border posts and informal entry6 points,” he said.             
Also present were Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Lucy Dlamini, Executive Director of the Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA) Jameson Vilakati as well as ministry officials. 

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